Power excavating apparatus



mm, m. LNWALTER v 2,43%72 POWER EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13', 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l /26 ii g VIII I 1 VENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

L. N. WALTER 2,437,572

POWER EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1944 2 shee'hs sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 9, 1948 UNI] TED J 'IATES *PATEN F FI CE POWER' EXCAVATING AP-PARATU S Leo N. Walter, OakGlennJll.

Application January 13, 1944,Serial No. 51 8964 .7 Glaims- (G1. Bi-.137)

This invention-relates-to improvements in power excavating apparatus which may be used for ditching, dredging, loading-and unloading carriers and like employment.

One of the principal objects oft-he improved device of this invention resides in the provision will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses reference being'hadtc the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig; l is an elevational 'view of an excavating apparatus which embodiesthe-invention,portions thereof being brokenaway.

"Fig. 2 is a :top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an endelevational view of the improved device taken from .the right end .ofLFig. 1, portions thereof .being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a section. taken .online And .ofl ig. v.1, of a fragmental portion of thedevice.

Fig. 5 is -a section taken on line 5-5101 Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 shows a slightly modified :form of the invention.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line r'l:'l of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig; 6.

The reference numeral ii} indicates generally astandard which may be constructed fromzany suitable material including wood or metal. "The standard i0 is preferably adjustably- -disposed in aboom l2. 'Theboom i2 is'preierably constructed of two pieces of I-beam angularly :disposed, as

is best shown in Fig. '2. However, any suitably constructed boom may be employed.

Formed in the free end of the boom 12 is a standardrecei-ving opening 14. The-standard ii! is slidably positioned in the opening L4.

Positioned on the'lower end -of the standard 10 is a cross member it. The cross-member 16 :2 together with the :standard l 0 form a substantially inverted '-T.=aS3iSib6St;ShOWn in Fig.1.

slidably positionednn thestandard I D andrhaving 'its +bottomredge sengageable with the cross member lli 'is a' itrustum shapedoperatingmember .318. member [18 is adapted to be :moved :on the standard u tfl is indicated by the solid and dottedlinesrn'f Fig. '1 which :shows the :memioer'in its two extreme positions. *Rotatably se- "cured to'the member 2L6 'is:.a latch 23 which is operable to 'swing beneath-the :member l8 there- 'by preventi'ng that memberfrom resting on the transverse --member 18. "The .latch '23 .may be rotate'd tmpermitthe member laB-to rest upon the transverse member 18.

Hingedly secured-Etc the across -:member i6 as at 1 *is a :pair .of scoop :members 2B. The scoop members 20, 20 are adapted -'to.:be swung from the horizontal position in which :they are showndn-Fig. 1 to the angular position in which they --are =shown in dotted lines by movement of the operating member lavas-will hereinafter be more fully described.

"Formed on *the upper portionsof each scoop 20 is an -operating arm '22. "The :operating :arms

- are angnlarlydisposed and are adaptcd to paral-lel and-:engage the angular-surfaces of the operatingmeniber 1'8. "It will be apparent that movement of the operating :member 18 in an upward direction will .move the operating :arms

2-2, 2.2 from the .p'os'itionshown Lin solid lines to the more :vertical position in which they are showntin dotted lines ini ig. '1.

Positioned on the operating-member i8 closely adjacent the base thereo'f "and projecting beyond the eperating arms 22, .22 are :guide members ml, 24. l ke:guide"members52d, "24 function to--ma;intai-n the operating arms122,'22 in engagement with: a portion: of the :angular surfaces 'of the operating member Iii, especially as the member 13 is-moved in a downwardly direction on :the -standard' tii. 'The guide memberstzt'are pro- -vided---with :ro'llers M. which 1 are adapted to engage the angular surfaces of the member l8.

fiecured to the .opemtingmember iii in any suitahlexmanner is an :operating cable .25. The operating vcable 15 extends along one -=si' de :of the standard ilifl as is clearly shown inFig. .1,,ar1d thence through :a :sheave 2.8.011 the bottom or the cross member :IB and thence upwardly on the opposite sidepfithe standard it. The cable E25 is-adapted ito bezpassed 1ov er sheaves 3B, 33' located ftheiboom :12 rand thence extend to a source ofpowemnotishown.

"Secured to'zpcrtions set the standard 21.0 above and below its junction with the boom I2 are vertically positioned cables 32 and 34 respectively. The cable 32 is disposed on the under side of the sheave 36 as is best shown in Fig. 1 and is adapted to move the standard In and associated parts in a downwardly direction. The cable 34 is disposed over a sheave 38 and is adapted to move the standard and associated parts in an upwardly direction. The cables 32 and 34 are adapted to be attached to a source of power, not shown.

Positioned on the cross member l6 and inclosing the operating arms 22, 22 and the operating member I8 is a cover 40. The cover 40 is adapted to protect the operating portions of the device from debris and foreign matter. Where it is found advisable or desirable, the cover member 40 may be eliminated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the improved device of this construction may be operated in the followingmanner: The scoops 28', 20 are lowered onto the material to be removed. The cable 26 is then manipulated to raise the operating member l8 which in turn operates the operating arms 22, 22 to the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1 thereby closing the lower end of the scoop members 20, 28 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The loaded scoop may then be raised by slacking off on the cable 32 and taking up on the cable 34. The loaded and raised scoop may then be swung into unloading position by movement of the boom l2. Unloading is accomplished by reversing the movement of the cable 26 to lower the operating member l8 on the standard [0. When it is desired the latch may be positioned to engage the bottom edge of the member [8, thus providing a stop limiting the movement 'of the operating member 18 and hence limiting the are described by the scoops. Full travel of the scoops is obtained by moving the latch 23 out of the path of travel of the member [8.

A slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8, wherein a pair of scoops 58 are hingedly secured, as at to a transverse member 52 and are adapted to be moved to three operative positions which are clearly shown in Fig. 5. Extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of each scoop 50 is an operating arm 51. These arms 51 incline toward each other, as is best shown in Fig. 5, and upon outward movement thereof cause the lower ends of scoops 50 to move toward each other. Apertures 55 in the member 53 provide suflicient clearance for the free outward movement of arms 51.

Positioned within the converging arms 53 and carried by the transverse member 52 is a substantially triangular member 58. The inclined edges of the triangular member 58 slidingly engage the inner surfaces of the arms 51 and upward movement of that member forces the arms 51 outwardly and downward movement of the triangular member 58 causes the arms 51 to move inwardly.

Secured to the under surface of the transverse member 52 is a sheave 60 through which a cable BI is threaded. The cable 5| passes through aperture 56 in the rectangular member 53 thence downwardly through an aperture 63 in the transverse member 52 about the sheave then returning upwardly through apertures 63 and 56 to a source of power, not shown. The vertically extending cable 6| parallels the triangular member 58 to which it is attached by clamps 64. An upward movement of the clamped side ofcable 6| lifts the triangular member 58, relative to the transverse member 52, thereby forcing the arms 51 outwardly and the scoops 50 inwardly. A slacking off on the cable 6| reverses its movement over sheave 60 and returns the triangular member 58, arms 51, and scoops 50 to their solid line positions. A pivoted stop member 65, positioned on the transverse member 52, may be rotated outwardly to the solid line position shown in Fig. 7 when it is desired to move the scoops 50 to their extreme outer positions.

It is to be noted that the top of the rectangular member is apertured as at 56 to permit the passage of the cables 58 and 6| therethrough. Consequently the cables 58 and BI function to manipulate the device as well as to support it as from a boom, crane or the like.

It will be apparent that the improved device of this invention may be operated between two extreme positions when the stop member is moved from the path of the triangular member. And when the stop member is moved into the path of travel of the triangular member the scoops of the device are movable between an extreme position and an intermediate position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a sturdy, compact and emcient device which may be universally used to excavate and move material of various kinds. The improved device of this invention may be used in conjunction with various types and construction of booms.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the device appertains that numerous changes in construction and design may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. Accordingly the patent granted hereon is not to be limited to the precise embodiments here shown or in any other manner except as may be necessitated by the terminology of the appended claims when given the range of equivalents to which they may be entitled.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an excavating apparatus, a standard, a transverse member fixed to said standard at an end thereof, a substantially triangularly shaped element slidably positioned on said standard, the base of said element being adapted to engage a surface of said transverse member, means for moving said element longitudinally of said standard, said means including a cable secured to said triangular member and extending beneath said transverse member, a pair of scoops hingedly secured to opposed ends of said transverse member, each of said scoops being provided with an angularly disposed arm adapted to engage said triangularly shaped element whereby said longitudinal movement thereof results in movement of the ends of said scoops toward and from each other.

2. In an excavating apparatus, a standard, a transverse member fixed to said standard at an end thereof, a substantially triangularly shaped element slidably positioned on said standard, the base of said element being adapted to engage a surface of said transverse member, means for moving said element longitudinally of said standard, said means comprising a flexible operating member extending along opposed sides of said standard and a portion thereof extending under said transverse member, means for raising and lowering said standard and parts carried thereby, a pair of scoops hingedly secured to opposed ends of said transverse member, each of said scoops being provided with an angularly disposed arm adapted to engage said triangularly shaped element whereby said longitudinal movement thereof results in movement of the ends of said scoops toward and from each other.

3. In an excavating apparatus, a standard, a transverse member fixed to said standard at an end thereof, a substantially triangularly shaped element slidably positioned on said standard, the base of said element being adapted to engage a surface of said transverse member, means for moving said element longitudinally of said standard, a pair of scoops hingedly secured to opposed ends of said. transverse member, each of said scoops being provided with an angularly disposed arm adapted to engage said triangularly shaped element whereby said longitudinal movement thereof results in movement of the ends of said scoops toward and from each other, and guide means carried by said substantially triangularly shaped element and engageable with the outer surfaces of said arms, said means for moving said element comprising a cable secured to said triangular element and looped beneath said transverse member whereby tension on said cable in one direction from said secured portion causes movement of said scoops in an opening direction and tension in the opposite direction from said secured portion causes movement of said scoops in a closing direction.

4. In an excavating apparatus, a standard, a transverse member fixed to said standard at an end thereof, a substantially triangularly shaped element slidably positioned on said standard, the base of said element being adapted to engage a surface of said transverse member, means for moving said element longitudinally of said standard, said means comprising a flexible member secured to said element and disposed so that force may be applied thereto to move said element in an upward or downward direction in respect to said transverse member, means for raising and lowering said standard and parts carried thereby, a pair of scoops hingedly secured to opposed ends of said transverse member, each of said scoops being provided with an angularly disposed arm adapted to engage said triangularly shaped element whereby said longitudinal movement thereof results in movement of the ends of said scoops toward and from each other, and roller means engageable with said arms for main taining the same in association with the angular surface of said triangular member.

5. In an excavating apparatus, a vertically disposed standard, a cross member fixed to the lower end of said member, a sheave positioned on the lower surface of said cross member intermediate the ends thereof, an operating member slidably positioned on said standard, a cable fixed to said operating member and xtending through said sheave to provide means for moving said operating member relatively of said standard, a scoop member hingedly secured to said cross member adjacent each end thereof, an arm projecting angularly from each scoop and engageable with said operating member, said arm providing means for moving said scoops in relation to movement of said operating member.

6. In an excavating device, a vertically disposed standard, an operating member slidably positioned on said standard, means for moving said operating member longitudinally of said standard, said means comprising a flexible member secured to said operating member and having portions thereof looped about a sheave positioned beneath said standard and extending upwardly on opposed sides thereof whereby movement of said flexible member causes an upward or downward movement of said operating member, a pair of scoops in hinged association with said standard, and means for moving said scoops in relation to the movement of said operating member.

7. In a device of the kind described, a transverse member, a pair of scoops hingedly secured to said member in opposed relation to each other, an operating arm extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper portion of each scoop, a member positioned between said arms and supported by said transverse member, said member being movable vertically relative to said transverse member and said arms, said member being operable upon upward movement to concurrently move said arms from each other and said scoops toward each other, and cable means secured to said member and having a portion thereof looped beneath said transverse member whereby movement of said cable means causes movement of said member upwardly or downwardly.

LEO N. WALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 471,404 Stone Mar. 22, 1892 729,939 Jones June 2, 1903 1,434,065 Prefontaine Oct. 31, 1922 1,964,905 Butterworth July 3, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 309,894 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1929 

